Maniac (2018)
A darkly comic Netflix limited series where two strangers unravel across surreal realities inside a pharmaceutical trial gone beautifully wrong.
Maniac - Series Information
- Original Title: Maniac
- First Air Year: 2018
- Last Air Year: 2018
- Created by: Patrick Somerville, Cary Joji Fukunaga
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 10
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: September 21, 2018 (United States - TV-MA), September 21, 2018 (United Kingdom - 18), September 21, 2018 (Germany - 16), September 21, 2018 (Australia - MA15+), September 21, 2018 (Mexico - B-15), September 21, 2018 (Spain - 16), September 21, 2018 (South Korea - 19)
- Networks: Netflix
- Production Companies: Anonymous Content, Paramount Television Studios
- Production Countries: United States of America
- Alternative Titles: เมนิแอ็ค (TH), 疯子 (CN)
Maniac - Plot
Two strangers are drawn to a mysterious pharmaceutical trial that will, they're assured, with no complications or side-effects whatsoever, solve all of their problems, permanently. Things do not go as planned.
Maniac - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see what awaits inside the trial:
The mind can be solved.
Where to Watch Maniac
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Maniac - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Patrick Somerville
- Cary Joji Fukunaga
Main Cast
- Emma Stone
- Jonah Hill
- Sonoya Mizuno
- Justin Theroux
- Sally Field
- Kathleen Choe
- Danny Hoch
- James Monroe Iglehart
- Dai Ishiguro
- Allyce Beasley
Writers
- Danielle Henderson
- Patrick Somerville
- Nick Cuse
- Mauricio Katz
- Caroline Goddard
Executive Producers
- Michael Sugar
- Pal Kristiansen
- Anne Kolbjørnsen
- Espen Huseby
- Emma Stone
Maniac - FAQs
Is Maniac based on a true story?
Maniac is not based on a true story. It is adapted from a 2014 Norwegian TV series of the same name created by Håkon Bast Mossige and Espen PA Lervaag. The American adaptation reimagines the original through a surreal, science-fiction lens crafted by Patrick Somerville and Cary Joji Fukunaga.
Where can you stream Maniac online?
Maniac is available exclusively on Netflix, including both the standard subscription tier and Netflix Standard with Ads. As a Netflix original limited series, it is not currently available on any other major streaming platforms. You can check regional availability via JustWatch.
Will Maniac get a second season?
Maniac was conceived and produced as a limited series with a self-contained story, and Netflix has not announced a second season. The series concluded with all ten episodes in 2018, and its creators have indicated no plans to continue the story beyond the original run.
Who are the main actors in Maniac?
Maniac stars Emma Stone as Annie Landsberg and Jonah Hill as Owen Milgrim, two strangers who meet during a pharmaceutical drug trial. The supporting cast includes Justin Theroux, Sally Field, and Sonoya Mizuno, all delivering standout performances across the series' shifting genre landscapes.
What is the content rating for Maniac?
Maniac is rated TV-MA, meaning it is intended for mature audiences only. The series contains strong language, adult themes, depictions of mental illness, and surreal sequences involving drug-induced hallucinations. Viewer discretion is advised for those sensitive to these themes.
Did Maniac win any awards?
Maniac received several award nominations, including Golden Globe nominations for Emma Stone and Jonah Hill. The series was also recognized at the Critics' Choice Television Awards and the Saturn Awards, earning praise for its performances, direction, and inventive production design.
What is Maniac the series about?
Maniac follows two strangers — Annie and Owen — who enroll in a mysterious pharmaceutical trial promising to permanently solve all their problems. The trial sends them on wildly different psychedelic journeys through alternate realities. Critics praised it as a visually inventive, emotionally resonant exploration of trauma, identity, and human connection.
Where was Maniac filmed?
Maniac was primarily filmed in New York City, with production taking place across various locations throughout the city. The series' distinctive retro-futuristic aesthetic was achieved through a combination of practical sets and location shooting, giving its dystopian alternate-reality version of New York a unique visual identity.
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